Social media uproar regarding pit bulls

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A social media uproar has the city of Austin’s Animal Services Department issuing a statement regarding three dogs that were euthanized last week after a judge determined the dogs were dangerous.

• Facebook page "Save Leo, Dawn, and Gorgo"

According to an affidavit for the seizure of the animals, on Sept. 6, three American Pit Bulls owned by Chris Grant attacked a 56-year-old man and his 10-year-old lab-mix as they were walking in the 7300 block of Ranch to Market 2222 near Jester Boulevard in West Austin.

The victim told authorities he was walking his dog around 9 p.m. when the three other dogs (Dawn, Gorgo, and Leo) started to run towards him. According to authorities, Grant’s dogs were all on a 50-foot leash, but they still managed to get to the victim and his dog. It is not clear if the victim’s dog was on a leash.

The dogs got into a fight and according to the victim, when he tried to get his dog away from the situation, he was bitten several times.

According to emergency room records, the victim was treated for bites on his hands and thigh. The victim sought treatment for a fractured finger. Austin Animal Center said the victim’s dog had a leg amputated.

Animal Protection placed Grant’s three dogs in quarantine at the Austin Animal Center (AAC) the same day.

While at AAC, an animal behaviorist conducted assessments with the three dogs and determined that all three dogs were “not safe for placement through the agency.”

A court hearing was scheduled on Sept. 28 -- where Grant’s counsel was present -- the city of Austin's Municipal Court under Section 822.003(e) of the State of Texas Health and Safety Code ordered the three American Pit Bulls to be humanely euthanized by the city's animal shelter within 10 days of the order.

The Austin Animal Center said the dogs were euthanized that evening.  

According to the city, the court found the following circumstances were not present, thus ordering the dogs to be euthanized:

• The dogs were not being used for the protection of a person or a person's property. 
• The incident did not occur in an enclosure in which the dogs were being kept, and the injured person was not trespassing in the enclosure when the attack, bite, or mauling occurred.
• The incident did not take place during an arrest or other action of a peace officer while the peace officer was using the dogs for law enforcement purposes.
• The dogs were not defending a person from an assault or person's property from damage or theft by the injured person.
• The injured person was not younger than 8 years of age and in an enclosure in which the dog was being kept.
• Following the incident, and as mandated by State law the three dogs were taken to the Austin Animal Center and placed in bite quarantine pending court action.

KXAN News contacted Grant and the victim in this case but has not heard back from either party.